Officials from TB Cancer & Health are outraged at Government's decision to prevent them from providing diabetic persons with the medication they need.

The association has been dispensing insulin and other medications for more than 30 years under the direction of chief medical officer Dr. John Cann, said TB Cancer & Health president Judy Simons, and she felt the decision by Government to prevent them from doing so without a pharmacist was “very unfortunate”.

Government issued a Press release on Wednesday stating TB Cancer & Health would temporarily cease dispensing the medications starting on Friday, November 14.

The statement said the association had reviewed its practice with regards to the sale of diabetic medications and supplies to the public, and had agreed to engage a pharmacist to oversee the supply and dispensing of medications.

The Press release anticipated the pharmacist would be in place by the end of November. Until then, it said, patients could purchase diabetic medications from pharmacies in the community or, if qualified, from the outpatient pharmacy at the hospital. Dr. Cann also maintained in the Press release that the decision would allow TB Cancer & Health to continue supplying medication at a reasonable cost and to upgrade its services.

However, at a Press conference on Friday afternoon which Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley also attended, Mrs. Simons said TB Cancer & Health had a pharmacist who would be starting today, not at the end of the month as the Government Press statement stated. The pharmacist will be available to dispense medication from 11.30 a.m. till 1 p.m. Monday-Friday starting this Monday, and those times would be under review as demand dictated.

It is expected that the association will have a permanent pharmacist by December of this year. Dr. Cann said on Friday he was pleased the association had managed to secure a pharmacist until then so the service would not be interrupted.

Mrs. Simons also stressed that TB Cancer & Health would do its best to absorb the cost of this pharmacist, meaning that the cost of medication to the public will not change. However, as the association is a not-for-profit organisation that in fact takes a huge loss on diabetic medication, she said that would have to be reviewed every month.

Cost would be a factor, she said. One vial of insulin costs $15 at the association, while in a pharmacy on the Island it costs $45. As a vial of insulin lasts roughly a week, that is a significant difference.

It would hurt insurance companies significantly, she added. “Prescriptions will drive insurance costs through the roof.

“We have had several angry patients call, they don't understand,” she said. TB Cancer & Health provides diabetic medication to 1,400 people, and for 130 of those people it is provided free of charge.

“We have provided a great public service for all these years,” she said.

Mrs. Simons said she was unsure as to why exactly Government had decided to make the change. Dr. Cann had called and said they should “cease and desist” dispensing medication immediately, she said. She understood that it was a directive from the Cabinet office, but that was all the information she had.

The Royal Gazette also understands Government was relying on the media to alert persons with diabetes about the changes rather than directly contacting the 1,400 patients who get their medication from TB Cancer & Health.

MPs clashed over the issue in the House of Assembly on Friday night. Mr. Dunkley attacked Government's stance and said Dr. Cann was on the TB Cancer & Health council and had been fully aware of their practices but suddenly the body was being squeezed.

Health Minister Patrice Minors said Government was making the body comply with the Pharmacy and Poisons Act which required a registered pharmacist to dispense drugs.

But Mr. Dunkley said there were four registered Government clinics where this was not always adhered to.

“Here is Government saying we need to come down with a big stick when in their own backyard they are doing nothing about it.”

He raised the issue of insulin cost and said some supplies were not available at the hospital and he complained that TB Cancer and Health was being required to pay duty on medical equipment which it brought in.